Laminated bowling pin



2. Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 14, 1965 J. P. HANSEN LAMINATED BOWLING PIN Filed oct. 12. 1961 HG, 4 Jfaw EHA/saw v 7 4 ,4r .f Ill/ llll l INVENTOR. f/fe/u RHA/V55# BW M 47am/f7.5.

Y Sept. 14, 1965 J. P. HANSEN 4LAMINATED BOWLING PIN Filed oct. 12, 1961 United States Patent Oli ice 3,206,207 LAMINATED BOWLING PIN Jerald P. Hansen, R.F.D. 3, Atiantic, Iowa Filed Oct. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 144,769 Claims. (Cl. 273-82) This invention relates to a laminated bowling pin and has as its primary object the provision of an improved pin construction comprised `of a plurality of layers or laminations of wood arranged about a central dowel in such manner that only the end grain of the wood is eX- posed at any point of the pin which can be impacted either by the ball or by striking the alley.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bowling pin so constructed as to eliminate the slabbing oft or the chipping 'of the wood construction along the grain lines, by virtue of this cross grain arrangement.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bowling pin of this character which by virtue of the above-mentioned end grain exposure of the wood is exceptionally long lasting and less subject to the normal diiiculties of chipping or breaking encountered in conventionally constructed pins.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a pin so constructed and arranged which will at the same time meet all oi the requisite standards of all bowling associations.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a central bore in the pin provided with a reinforcing insert comprising an aluminum or other suitable reinforcing tube.

Still other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a bowling pin which is exceptionally sturdy in construction, and which may be manufactured and assembled with a minimum of eort, difficulty, and cost.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown .in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a bowling pin constructed in -accordance with the instant invention with certain concealed parts thereof being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 4 4 of FIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is a -sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6 of FIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7 7 of FIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8 8 of FIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9 9 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE l() is a sectional View taken substantially along the line lll-1li of FIG. 1 as viewed in the `direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE ll is a schematic sectional view showing the assembly and graining of the component segments of the pin prior to finishing.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference new to the drawings in detail, the bowling pin of the instant invention is generally indicated at 2i) and comprises a central `substantially circular dowel 21 with the grain running longitudinally, that is, perpendicular to the level of the alley. The dowel or core 21 is provided with a longitudinal bore 22 in which is positioned a reinforcing tube 23 of aluminum or other desired material in accordance with the requirements for weight in the pin. The upper end of the tube 23 is closed by a suitable plug 24.

The lower end of the core or dowel 21 is inserted in a plastic cup 25 in the conventional manner as is customary with present day bowling pin-s. The longitudinal extension of the grain at the lower end of the core is important as to prevent the bottom from breaking off transversely. The strength of the wood supports the plastic ring or cup, the latter merely serves to maintain a true bottom.

In order to prevent the slab grain from `slabbing or chipping off at the upper extremity of the head of the pin, there is provided a transverse bore 26 in which is fitted and glued a dowel 2'7 with the grain running longitudinally of the head of the pin or parallel to the level of the alley. The dowel 27 thus presents at the point of maximum thickness of the head, at the two points of slab grain which are always on opposite sides from each `other when dowel 21 is turned from a single piece [of wood, and in a direction transverse to the grain of the head an end grain portion, which is highly resistant to the chipping oli of slabs of the upper head or neck portion of the pin. As best shown in FIG. 3, the dowel 27 is inserted prior to the boring of the bore 22 and the insertion of the reinforcing tube 23.

It may here be pointed out that while both bore 22 and tube 23 are herein disclosed as of uniform diameter throughout, that the bore and consequently the tube, may be tapered from top to bottom, if desired.

The body of the pin is comprised of layers or laminations, each comprised of a plurality of sections of wood which are cut cross grain as shown in FIG. 11 so that all points of the pin which may be struck by a ball or strike against the alley, present end grain structure which is much more highly resistant to chipping or slabbing than the longitudinal grain of the center core. The layers are designated in FIGS. 1 and 2 from top to bottom as 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35. There may obviously be as many of these layers :as necessary or desirable, and each layer may be of any desired thickness or vertical height. The overall conformity with the standard bowling pin provides the essential criterion. In FIG. 5 taken through the center line of the layer 3@ there are three sections 39a, 36h, and Sile, each of which is cut in such manner that the end grain as indicated extends transversely tothe grain of the core 21 and is positioned to extend longitudinally to a direction of impact. As lseen by the line 30d, the

ra'm of the members 39a, b, and 352C is parallel to a line diagonal to the transverse grain of the core 21.

The layer or lamination 31 is shown in FIG. 6 and comprises three similar sections 31a, 3Ib, and 31C. In each instance the grain is cut in the same manner as that described in connection with FIG. 5 and the segments are offset relative to the position of the segments 36a, 3%, and Sile, the junctures of which .are indi-cated bythe lines Stia', 30h', and 30e in FIG. 6. The grain along which the sections are cut is perpendicularly aligned. FIG. 7 discloses lamination 32 which in turn is comprised of segments 32a, 32b, and 32e which Asegments are secured together along the lines 32a', 3211', and 32C', these lines being in substantial alignment with the connecting lines 30a', 30h', and 3Go', and offset from the lines 31a', 3117', and 31e along which the sections 31u, 311;, and 31e are secured. The section 33 as shown in FIG. 8 is comprised of Patented Sept. 14, 1965 sections 33a, 3312, and 33C glued together along the lines 33a', 33h', and 33e', cut oppositely to the axis as in the foregoing segments. Similarly, section 34 is comprised of three sections 34a, 34h, and 34C, the alignment of which is offset relative to the lines 33a', 3319, and 33e. The lowermost lamination 35 is also comprised of sections 35a, 355, and 35C which are again offset relative to the connecting lines 34a', 34h', Iand 34C of FTG. 9. The thickness radially of each 4of the sections is in accordance with the dimensioning of a conventional bowling pin, and is formed on a lathe after the initial assembly of the several blocks about a common core 36 as shown in FIG. 11, each of blocks 36a, 36h, and 36C which may correspond to any of the layers of laminations above described, having its end grain facing outwardly from the center of a central core member. After the blocks have been initially formed and' glued together along the diagonal lines as indicated and previously discussed, drilled out along the center to the size of the core 21, assembled over core 21 and similarly glued to the dowel 'or core 21, the pin is turned into final shape. The insertion of the doWel 27, the formation of the bore 22, the insertion of the reinforcing tube 23 and the nal assembly of the plastic cup 25 are all, of course, steps taken after the initial formation and turning of the pin after assembly of its component blocks.

After the formation and .assembly of the pin the customary layer or layers of lacquer 37 are provided to give the pin the required exterior finish, such lacquer cornpletely covering the body, the neck, and the head of the pin.

From the foregoing it Will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved laminated bowling pin which accomplishes all the yobjects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiment-s may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it lis to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A bowling pin having `a head portion, a neck portion, a body portion and a base portion and being adapted to stand in vertically disposed relationship to a horizontally extending bowling alley, said pin Icomprising a central core of Wood having the grain thereof extending substantially vertically when said pin is standing, a plurality tof laminae surrounding said core over at least the body portion of said pin and secured to each other at substantially horizontally extending bonding jun-ctures, each of said laminae including a plurality of segments of wood `secu-red to each other at `substantially vertically extending bonding junctures, the end grain of each Off said segments extending substantially horizontally and being lsubstantially radially disposed with respect to said core.

2. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vertically extending bonding junctures of adjacent laminae are radially offset with respect to each other.

3. A snuctnre in accordance With claim 1 wherein each of said laminae includes three substantially equal segments.

4. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the head portion yof said pin comprises the top portion of said core, a horizontally extending transverse bore defined through said head portion, and a plug of wood secured in said transverse bore having the grain thereof extending substantially horizontally and substantially longitudinally of said transverse bore.

S. A structure in accordance with claim 4 wherein a vertically extending longitudinal bore is defined substantially centrally through said core and transversely through said plug, and a reinforcing member is secured in said longitudinal bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 721,976 3/03 Stevens 273-82 1,949,325 2/34 Paul. i 2,105,045 1/38 Kraft 273-82 2,618,481 1l/52 Dosker 273-82 2,629,596 2/53 Luedtke 273-82 2,701,719 10/55 Di Pierro 273-82 3,048,400 8/62 Friedman 273-82 RICHARD C. PINKHAMPrmary Examiner. 

1. A BOWLING PIN HAVING A HEAD PORTION, A NECK PORTION, A BODY PORTION AND A BASE PORTION AND BEING ADAPTED TO STAND IN VERTICALLY DISPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BOWLING ALLEY, SAID PIN COMPRISING A CENTRAL CORE OF WOOD HAVING THE GRAIN THEREOF EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY WHEN SAID PIN IS STANDING, A PLURALITY OF LAMINAE SURROUNDING SAID CORE OVER AT LEAST THE BODY PORTION OF SAID PIN AND SECURED TO EACH OTHER AT SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BONDING JUNCTURES, EACH OF SAID LAMINAE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SEGMENTS OF WOOD SECURED TO EACH OTHER AT SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING BONDING JUNCTURES, THE END GRAIN OF EACH OF SAID SEGMENTS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID CORE. 